24 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jan.. 1^" 



APPLE CULTURE IN VICTORIA. 



Continued from page 727, Vol, XIV. (11th December. 191U. i 



By J . Farrell, Orchard Supervisor. 



Pruning the Jonathan. 



Ill consequence of its general adaptability to a wide range of soil and 

 climatic environments, its consistant fruit-producing characteristics under 

 the various conditions, when scientifically managed, and the ever-increas- 

 ing popularity of its fruit, both on the local and export markets, the 

 Jonathan is one of the most extensively cultivated and profitable varieties 

 in this State. 



?m'' 



Plate 52. — Ten-year-old Jonathan unpruned. 



For many years the pruning treatment of the Jonathan has engaged 

 the serious attention of oixhardists and pruning experts alike. Similar 

 to most other varieties, its habit of growth is, to a great extent, in- 

 fluenced by the class of soil on which it is cultivated. Rich land pro- 

 duces an upright vigorous tree, which requires hard pruning for the first 

 three or four years in order to divide up its branch system into a large 

 number of leaders, so as to suit local conditions, and the crop producing 

 requirements of the orchardist. 



When a tree with too small a number of leaders is growing on land 

 with a high standard of fertility, rank wood with long internodes is 

 usually produced annually. The buds on this class of leader, instead of 

 producing light fruitful laterals during tlie second year of their growth, 

 invariably send out strong, unfruitful ones. This may be prevented to a 

 great extent by providing for the excessive multiplication of the leaders 



